Brighter Super’s Kate Farrar has been named president of the Queensland Futures Institute (QFI), effective 31 March 2024.
She succeeds Julieanne Alroe, who has retired from her position after a decade in the role.
“Being appointed president of QFI is a profound honour and a responsibility I accept with deep commitment,” Farrar stated.
“We stand at the cusp of shaping a brighter future for Queensland, our regions, through a lens of growth and innovation.”
She will take on the presidency alongside her responsibilities as chief executive of Brighter Super, which was created in 2021 through the merger of LGIAsuper and Energy Super. Farrar has been CEO of the fund since its inception and was previously CEO at LGIAsuper for over three years.
In May 2023, Brighter Super merged with Suncorp Super, now known as SPSL Master Trust, to form a $30 billion super fund with more than a quarter of a million members.
QFI described Farrar’s appointment as a reflection of her distinguished career, commitment to Queensland, and Brighter Super’s longstanding association with the institute.
“With roots in the energy sector, financial services and local government, Brighter Super under Kate’s guidance has been on a significant growth trajectory to become the fourth-largest non-government financial institution, based on funds under management, in Queensland,” QFI stated.
Farrar’s vast experience includes numerous leadership roles across the energy and finance sectors.
She was senior implementation leader at McKinsey and Company for over a year and a half, where she worked with clients on strategic, operational, and organisational changes.
Prior to that, she was managing director at QEnergy for over six years.
She also served as chief operating officer at Ergon Energy for almost eight years, where she helped grow the electricity retail business to double operating net profit after tax over three years, and led the acquisition of PowerDirect for $103 million.
According to QFI, Farrar’s extensive experience across these roles “positions her perfectly to support and steer QFI towards a promising future”.
The research house has hired an experienced product specialist for its Australasian team.
An experienced communications specialist is joining the industry group in a newly created role.
The $46 billion investment corporation owned by the government of South Australia has hired an experienced investment professional to its leadership.
The $300 billion fund has appointed a new CRO to drive its governance capabilities.